We’ve all had those quick sharp pains that come suddenly and leave just as quickly.
Chronic pain, on the other hand, is pain that never quite goes away.
“We define chronic pain as pain which lasts six months or longer,” said Cleveland Clinic Pain Specialist John Hill, MD, who leads the Interventional Pain Center at Ashtabula County Medical Center. “It is pain that keeps you from enjoying life, and it can be difficult to treat. Over-the-counter medication may ease the symptoms, at first, but the pain never really goes away.”
However, that does not mean you should give in to the pain.
“The temptation is to avoid activity, and hope the pain will go away. That’s exactly what you shouldn’t do. We know that staying active actually helps ease the pain,” Dr. Hill said.
Chronic pain won’t have an easy fix – in fact, there may be no cure for the pain at all. However, by following a simple game-plan, you and your physician can take control and manage your pain.
The game plan starts with keeping notes. Write down information about when the pain is most severe, what activities or movement cause the pain to get worse, what time of day or night the pain is strongest, and whether or not you are taking over-the-counter medication for the pain.
This pain journal will help your physician start to diagnose the cause. Your physician may want you to have imaging tests, such as a Cat Scan or MRI performed to get a picture of what is going on inside your body. Other tests, such as an electromyogram (EMG), may be used to test your nerves.
Your primary care physician may refer you to a pain specialist for further treatment.
By narrowing down the cause of the pain, your physician can determine the best treatment.
“We look at multiple approaches to treating your pain,” Dr. Hill said. “We may start with prescription medication, and blend it with a course of physical therapy. This often can help alleviate the pain.”
Other treatment options will vary depending on the source and strength of the pain, and could range from prescribed medication to implantation of a device that controls the pain.
Dr. Hill said the key to battling chronic pain is to stay consistent and meet all goals set for treatment. It may mean changing our lifestyle (eating a healthier diet, exercising more, watching sources of stress) or adhering to a strict schedule of visits to the doctor for pain medicine or surgery.
For more information about chronic pain management, visit www.acmchealth.org and click on “Pain Management” under Services. If you or a loved one suffers from chronic pain, consult with your family physician and ask for a referral to ACMC’s Interventional Pain Center.